Braider tension



June 1, 1926. l l, 7,474

E. C. DANDY El' AL lBRAIDER TENSION Filed July 23. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l akku@ J J P 3 w 2 .z .w HMM H\ ff. M- Il.

. .lllllhmv F. 0 P IWW j v. M a. on 3 Z Z3 1 ya f Ul A m n/h/ 9N 3 l, 4v e Z am@ June l 1926., 1,587,474

E. C. DANDY ET AL BRAIDER TENSION Filed July 23, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ihjatenteol .inne l, 1926.

llltlirl STATES EDWARD C. DANDY ANDv WLLIAM TUGWELL, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

BRAIDER TENSION.

Application filediluly 23, 1925. Serial No. 45,494.

rThe invention relates to a braider carrier improvement having particular* reference to the tension-applying means. One of the difficulties universally encountered in this art at which numerous improvements have been directed, is that of applying the desired degree of tension to the yarn, and as the motion oi' the carrier changes the distance of the spool or tube from the point of braiding in maintaining the tension without variation. The devices in use are more or less irregular and uncertain in their operation.

The present improvement-s comprise an adjustable spring plate tension which provides a direct drag on the yarn which may be adjusted according to a spring` balance to give the desired degree ot tension, a brake which is so constructed as to compensate for the change in radius, as the size and hence the radius of the ball or winding` changes, and a weight and spring` take-up which compensates and prevents slacking; ot the yarn when the mot-ion of the carrier causes the spool or tube to approach the point ot braiding. The weight may also be utilized as a knock-ott member to aetuate any well-known or preferred type of stop motion. rlhe plate spring tension and takeup are so constructed that they may be threaded substantially with a sing-le motion and without shifting the grip on the thread, no special implements or change ot position or adjustment ot the parts beingI necessary.

ln the accompanying` drawing we have illustrated so much of a braider carrier as is regarded as necessary to a proper understanding oi' the various devices of the invention and the operation thereof.'

In the drawings Figure l is an elevation of the carrier and tension members, etc., the table, i. e., the top, bottom and center plates being;- sectioned and fragmentarily shown, the elevation being a view looking toward the centre of the spool from the side of the carrier arm.

liieure 2 is an elevation of the carrier and tension members, etc., and section of the table taken irom the right in Figure l, both tigures showing;` the yarn in threaded position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view corresponding' to Figure Q, but showing` the device in the process of threading.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section on the line el, 5 of Figure 2, showing` t-he tension drag or brake in connection with a spool from which but a small portion of the yarn has been removed, the tube being almost full.

Figure 5 is a similar section showing the action of the brake or drag where from twothirds to three-fourths of the yarn has been removed, the section being taken on the same line.

Figure 6 is a section through the carrier arm and spring tension plate, the same being` taken on the line 6, 6 ot' Fig. l.

Figure 7 is a section on the line 7, 7 oit Figure l showing the take-up weight and spring.

Referring, to the drawings by numerals, each of which is used to indicate the same or similar parts in the different iigures, the disclosure includes a fragmentary showing; of a braider table l, braider carriage 2 comprising the guides or followers 3 and et which coeoperate with the table, and an upright arm 6 which carries the tension members, yarn and guide, etc., to be described. The arm at it-s upper end is provided with an eye 7 through which the yarn is delivered to the point of braiding.

The tension members, as ai'r'oresaid,n comprise a brake l0, spring plate .tension 1l and take-up l2. These three mechanisms contribute to the common result of applyingto the yarn and maintaining; a constant and predetermined or adjustable tension. The yarn is led from the spool or tube lll over the take-off guide l5 through an eye 16 'in the upright arm 6, hence under the spring plate tension ll to be described, which presses it into the vertical groove 1.7 in the arm, see Figure 6, the yarn itself be ing indicated by reference character 18. The yarn extends downward in the aforesaid groove 17 from the spring plate tension il around and beneath the bottom weight 19, which is a feature of the take-up 12 to be more fully described, and then upward vertically from the lower edge of the bottom weight at the bottom of upright arm 6 through the eye 7 at the top of the arm 6, trom which point it is led to the point of braiding' where it is embodied in the cord or rope being` formed. Y

'lhe operation of such braiding machines is well understood and need not be described.

into the groove 17 along which it is passed downward under the bottom weight 19, being led between the weight and the arm 6 at the right where the weight is tree as seen in Figure 1. Upon being sharply pulled, it passes between the bottom weight, and the upright arm 6 on which the bottom weight slides, as shown, particularly in Figure 7, threading being in this position of the yarn completed except tor the passing oi' the yarn upward along the groove 39, as shown in Figure 7, and threading it through the eye 7 at the top of the carrier arm from which eye it is led directly to 'the point of braiding. rllhe position and arrangen'ient oi the slot 38 malres it possible to thread the carrier after the yarn has been passed through the eye 16 with practically a single motion, without implements and without any elaborate mechanical steps or procedure.

Another important :feature oi the invention is the take-up 12 consisting of bottom weight 19 sliding in a vertical path on the lower half ot the upright carrier arm 6, the traverse of the bottom weight being limited at the bottom by the bottom weight stop 34 and at the top by the bottom weight spring stop 40 rlhe bottom weight is provided with a slot 41 on its rear or inside surface, wl. 'ch slot tits loosely about the arm 6, which acts as a way for the bottom weight, the slot being partially closed about the upright arm 6 by lips 42. The bottom weight as shown has at one side, preferably the leil't or the side opposite the opening of the slot 38, a vertical bore or hole 43 in which is seated a coil spring 44 which ena shoulder 45 near the bottom of the hole. Below the shoulder'the hole is of reduced diameter as at 46, and the hole or bore 4S serves as a guide and bearing for the take-up pin 47, which is shouldered at 48 to engage the spring, providing a reduced portion 49 which extends downward through the coil Aof the spring and through the reduced opening 46 at the bottom where the pin is held by a cotter 50 or in any other suitable manner. The pin 47 is so placed as to engage the spring stop 40 as the weight moves upward due to the tension ot the yarn, and on further tension the bottom weight 1l) is drawn up, compressing the springD and increasing the tension on the yarn. The take-up 12 provides primarily during the operation oit braiding for the maintenance of a continuous tension as the distance between the carriers and point ot b 'aiding 'aries slightly, tending in the absence ci? some such provision ior a constant tension to produce loops ot projecting yarn or sott portions in the rope or cord being braided.

ln the present device al marlred degree ot tension suliicient to raise the weight 19 and compress the spring 44 to a considerable degree is exerted and applied to the yarn at all times during the braiding operation, such tension being necessary to unwind the yarn Jfrom the spool or ball., hence a slight relaxation of the pull on the yarn is easily and quickly taken up by the spring 44 and the weight 19, the weight being correspondingly moved downward to take up the slack. y

lt should be noted that the feed of the present braider carrier is continuous as distinguished from the step by step reed oi the carrier and tension device described in Hooper Patent No. 1,442,432, the weight or block 12 being mainly for the purpose of taking up the slaclr which might result from the movement of the spindle in the braiding operation and having no tripping function as have the sliding blocks in the previous braider carriers which in the upper portion ci' their travis trip a pawl which permits the spinndle to rotate, letting oill a. supply of yarn for use until the loop is su'lliciently shortened to again raise the weight.

ln the event ot breakage of the yarn, the tension being relaxed, the weight 19 moves to bottom position in which it rests against the stop 34. ln this position the movement of the braider head 'brings it into contact withthe knock-oli lever 52 which may be connected to any preferred type of stop motionwhich throws olif the belt or otherwise disconnects the power and stops the machine until the break receives the attention of the operator and the machine is again started. Various types of stop mechanism suitable Jfor this purpose being well known, no illustration of this feature other than the knock-off lever is regarded as necessarv.

The various mechanisms described operate simultaneously to apply, by their combined operation, a suitable uniiorm tension to the yarn during braiding to produce a cord ot the desired degree of hardness and closeness of braid, and of uniform appearance and texture.

The operation of these mechanisms has been fully described in connection with the description of their structural features.

1We have thus described specifically and in detail a braider tension, take-up and stop motion mechanism in accordance with our invention in order that the nature and operation of the same may be vfully understood; however, the speciiic terms herein are used descriptively rather than in their limiting sense, the scope of the invention being delined in the claims.

Vilhat we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination in a braiding machine oi a braider carrier having a spindle carryil i) 'eli ing a supply ot yarn, an upright arm having an intermediate eye and an eye at the top, a bottoni weight sliding on the arm and a spring tending to depress the bottom weight, a yarn take-ott guide, a spring plate tension bearing on vthe outside ot 'the arm below the intermediate eye and a spring pressed drag henri or. vthe surface ot Athe yarn supply which is wound about the spindle, the yarn beingled from the spool about the guide outwardly through the eye in the centre olr the upright arm, downwardly along the upright arm beneath and about the bottoni weight and uillward through the eye at the top et' the arm and hence to the vpoint ot braiding, the spring tension bearing on the yarn just l olow the intermediate eye and pressing it against the upright arm.

Q. The combination with a braider carrier, the carrier having a spindle with a supply of yarn woundabout the saine, vand an upright arm adjacent the spindle ot a tension mechanism in the form o't a brake engaging the peripheral surface ofthe yarn on the spindle, the brake being in the form oit a lever having a hinge connection with the upright arm, and a springengaging the upright arm, and said lever pressingthe latter'againstthe surtace of the yarn on `the spindle, the "b alie lever being Vformed on a curve so that its extreme outer end remote from the hinge bears on the yarn when the spindle is full and the ball is ot the greatest diameter, the curve being so formed that the point oi' contact shifts toward Vthe hinge -as the yarn is unwound, the curve beingconcave toward the spindle and the shifting of the point ot Contact tending` to compensate for relaxation ot the spring as the arm swings toward the centre ot the spindle.

F3. The combination wit-lila braider Carrier o. a

tension consisting o'l a spring plate secured to the carrier at one end andbowed outwardly from the carrier and bearing at the other end on the yarn after ithas been led from the bobbin, pressing the `same against the carrier and means `for Varying the tension on the spring fby applying a varying degree of pressure to the latter at a point where Ait it spaced away from the carrier.

l. The combination with a braider carrier having an upright arm with a transverse eye through which the yarn is'threaded, of a spring plate tension 'bearing against the yarn adjacent the eye, the plate having a transverse open endedsiot over the eye through which the yarn may be passed in threading.

5. The combination with a braider carrier having a transverse eye through which the yarn 1s passed, of a spring plate tension member pressing the yarn against the carrier ai'jacent the eye,l the plate having an open ended slot through which the yarn may be passed 1n threading and from which slot essaim it is led ybetween the spring yplate and the arrier to the point upon which the pressure is applied.

'6. rlhe combination with a braider carrier having a transverse eye through lwhich the yarn is Ipassed, of -a spring plate tension member ,pressing the yarn against the carrier adjacent the eye, the plate having a slot through which the yarn may be passed in threading and from which slot it is led between the spring lplate and the carrier to 'the point upon which the `pressure is applied, and .a bottom weight mounted on vslide below the eye, the weight li'tting loosely on the slide and being` free at one side so that the yarn may be passed between the weight and the slide and upwardly about the 'weight to the point ot braiding.

7. IThe combination with a braider carrier having a transverse eye through which the yarn is passed, of a spring plate tension member pressing the yarn against the carrier adjacent the eye, the plate having an open ended slot through which the yarn may be passed -inthreading and 'from which slot it is 'led between the spring yplate and the carrier `to the point upon which the pressure is applied, and a bottoni weight mounted on a slide below fthe eye, the weight fitting loosely on lthe slide and being 'free at one side so that the yarn may be passed bef tween the weight and the slide and upwardly about the weight to the point of braiding, the 'braider weight having a spring which tends topress it downwardly to take up the slack oli-the yarn.

8. The combination with a braider carrier having a spindle with a `supply of' yarn wound about the same, of .a brake engaging the peripheral surface of the yarn on the spindle, the ybrake comprising a. swinging leverand a springpressing the lever against the yarn, lthe levcr'being curved in the plane of oscillation whereby the radius ot the point of contact aboutthe centre of oscillation changes and decreases as the yarn is unwound, compensating for the relaxation ot' lthe spring.

9. The combination with a-braider carrier having a spindle, ot a continuous 'feed and tension for the yarn comprising an upright arinwith an 'intermediate eye through which the yarn is passed from the spindle, a take-up member sliding on the upright arm which it but partially encloscs, the takeup member fitting loosely on the upright arm and having an opening at the side through lwhich the yarn may be swung laterally, so that the yarn being led downwardly from the eye may be passed laterally between the take-up member, and the upright arm, and thus looped under the take-up member, from which point it is led up to the top of the arm which is provided with an eye through which the yarn is passed and lll) led from said eye to the point of braiding.

l0. The combination With a braider carrier havinga spindle for the yarn and an upright arm With an intermediate eye througrgh which the yarn is passed from the spindle, a tale-up member sliding on the upright arm which it partially eneloses, the take-up member litting` loosely on the upright arm and having an opening` at the side through which the yarn may be swung, laterally, so thatthe yarn may be led downwardly from the eye and passed laterally between the take-up member and the uprieht arm, and thus looped under the take-cup e" member from Which point it is led up to the top of the arm which is provided With an eye through Which the yarn is passed and led from said eye to the point of braiding, and a spring plate tension on the arm bearing on the yarn and pressing it against the upright arm at a point belovsT the intermediate eye.

1l. The combination with a braider earrier having a spindle for the yarn and an upright arm With an intermediate eye through which the yarn is passed from the spindle, a take-up member sliding on the upright arm which it partially eneloses, the take-up member fitting` loosely on the upright arm, so that the yarn may be led downwardly from the eye and passed between the take-up member and the upright arm, and thus looped under the take-up member from which point it is led up to the top of the arm which is provided with an i eye through Which the yarn is passed and led from said eye to the point ot braiding, and a spring` plate tension on the arm bearing` on the yarn and pressing it against the upright arm at a point below the intermediate eye, the spring plate tension having` a slot opening leading to the outside edge or the tension member, the slot registering` with the intermediate eye for convenience in threading through the intermediate eye and through the tension member whereby the yarn may be swung; from the eye under the tension member and passed between the take-up and the upright arm.

Sigrid by us at Baltimore, Maryland7 this ii 18th day of July, 1925.

RDX/YARD C. DANDY. WILLIAM TUGVVELL, 

